Background Information

These are words that have different meanings depending upon their usage in a sentence. Excessive time in understanding multiple meaning words can provide a delay in understanding that disrupts either reading fluency or oral language comprehension. Much of semantic ambiguity involves multiple meaning words.

Many standardized tests assess words with multiple meanings in their vocabulary sections. Language used by textbooks and teachers are rife with ambiguity, as is much of the humor used in social language (Spector, 2007). Familiar, frequently used words tend to have more meanings than less frequent words. For example, one study found that 72% of the most frequently occurring 9,000 words contained multiple meanings (Johnson and Pearson, 1984). Other research has demonstrated the significance of context in acquiring and testing multiple meaning words. Many factors contribute to the difficulty understanding these words, including context, a child’s previous experience with the words in that context, and the degree of meaning overlap between the words’ meanings (Johnson et al., 1997).

2) kills two birds with one stone – learn two words for the price of one

3) prepares for common sections of standardized vocabulary tests

4) provides bridge for working with context

Sometimes words that can be used as verbs or nouns are called multiple meaning words (for example, open, dance, and layer). These words aren’t typically confused for one another. When hearing “The door was opened.” a listener doesn’t typically confuse the possible noun or verb meanings of “opened.” Assessments with multiple meaning words include the LPT, OWLS, and TOLD-I.

Goal Suggestions

Eugene will identify another meaning of functional multiple meaning words when given one meaning.

Charlotte will identify two meanings of age appropriate multiple meaning words.

Dayton will provide one definition of age appropriate multiple meaning words when given another definition.

Pierre will provide two definitions of age appropriate multiple meaning words.

I was so impressed with your multiple meaning activities and ideas. I just wanted to thank who ever is responsible for this outsanding site, materials, and time they put into this. What and excellent job! Can’t wait to checkout all the other information on this site. Thanks again! Mike

Hello, I have to say that I am extremelly happy I found your website, I am an ESl teacher in Mexico and you have no idea how many times I go back to your site to get ideas for my classes.
thank you again !!!

I am absolutely thrilled with this site. I am a newer speech-language pathologist in my school district and with the many budget cuts to schools I do not have money to purchase materials. Thank you so much for putting this site together. It can benefit a lot of kids.

I have a non-verbal student with autism who is making great strides with language. I realized that part of his confusion lies in abstract words that change meanings, but are part of day-to day directions: “now” “today” “tomorrow” “later.” We used to assume some of these were trigger words, but he truly seems to be trying to understand how these change meaning according to context. Do you have any effective ways to teach these terms?

I like focused stimulation – just using the words over and over again in appropriate contexts, and especially having teachers, parents and aids doing that too. Coming up with contrasts is good, such as now versus later, and today versus tomorrow. The student should see how the differences in words affects something functionally for him. Good luck!

I had a ball using your silly multi-meaning word sentences with my second graders. I flashed them up on the screen, and I had the kids use them as writing prompts for stories and poems in celebration of Poetry Month. They loved it! Great site!

Thank you so very much for your extending kindness in sharing your work with our students. I was so grateful to find this site because I was at a loss for any more ideas. These are a God send! Wishing you Happy Holidays and a blessed New Year!

I loved this post! This year I wrote a book for one of my classes and I used some of the tools from your website. I taught a lesson about multiple meaning words to fourth graders and your tools were very beneficial, thank you so much!

Thank-you Thank-you Thank-you!!!!
I have a autistic child who is struggling with multiple word meanings. He is taking his last reading gate test for 3rd grade tomorrow and I am hoping this gets him over his hurdle!!!
I can’t thank you enough for having this site.

Can u help me with this problem? It says to draw 2 pictures to illustrate two meanings of the word PITCHER? I’m thinking to draw a tea pitcher and a baseball pitcher, is that what their wanting or would it be like a baseball pitcher and a picture frame? Please help me out